Mud Prevention

Mud
Mud is a thick, sticky substance that seems to form overnight in livestock paddocks and pastures, and whose only function is to pull shoes off of man and beast, strain ligaments and tendons, and provide safe harbor for pests like bacteria and fungus. Sound like fun?

Paddocks
Well, if it doesn’t, we have some alternatives for you. Surfaced paddocks are an excellent way to save your pastures from overgrazing and compaction, while providing a safe and dry place for your livestock to stay during the winter months.

Like nearly all home improvement projects, the most important step is the prep work. For any paddock to function well, the designated area must be scraped of any existing organic or loose, mud-making material. A slope of 1-2% away from the barn or other shelter is also necessary to help drainage and extend the life of the footing. Install gutters, downspouts and an outlet (or rain barrel with an overflow) to get the roof run-off diverted away from the paddock. In an average year with a rainfall of 45 inches, a 12 foot by 12 foot roof will shed over 4,000 gallons of water. Just re-routing this water can significantly reduce the accumulation of mud within a livestock keeping area.

Footing
So now you’re ready to install the new footing. But which do you choose?
Hogfuel, Pole Peelings & Wood Chips
Hogfuel, pole peelings or wood chips are an inexpensive route that can
be used for almost any type of livestock. Make sure that the product is
free of construction debris and does not contain toxic plants like black
walnut and rhododendron. For animals like sheep, goats, and cows that
are difficult to pick up after, a hogfuel paddock provides a mud free
surface that can just be scraped away and composted after a season or 2
of use.

After preparing the area, a 2 - 4 inch interface layer
of either flakes of straw, old hay, or large crushed rock needs to go
down to help improve drainage. If rock is used, this layer needs to be
locked into place with either a roller or plate compactor to provide a
level sub-surface. A final 18 inch layer of hogfuel is spread out on
top. After about a week or 2, this will compress to a mat of about 10
inches, providing a firm footing for your animals.

Gravel & Sand
Gravel or sand is an excellent option for horse paddocks. While the
initial cost of installation is higher, the paddock, once installed,
will provide many years of mud free footing if regularly maintained. To
install this paddock, the ground surface should be graded and sloped. A
layer of non-woven Geotextile fabric, grids, or large crushed rock
spread and compacted as mentioned above will prevent the footing
material from sinking into the ground, stabilize the subsoil, provide
improved drainage and increase the load bearing capacity. Finally, a 4 -
8 inch surface layer of crushed 5/8 or 3/8 rock (minus or washed), pea
gravel, or coarse builder’s sand will provide you and your livestock
with excellent drainage and a long term solution to mud.

Hogfuel, Pole Peelings or Wood Chips
Pros

Low cost

Low daily maintenance

Nutrient run-off is minimized

Cons

Animals are more susceptible to thrush and rain rot

The material will decompose over time and will need to be removed and replaced

Some animals are allergic to cedar

Gravel or SandPros

Easy to pick

Material does not need to be replaced

Secure and firm footing

Cons

A separate place to feed must be available

Higher cost to install

Paddocks must be picked daily and raked regularly

More Information
As you can see, there
are several options to choose from, and they all have their positive
points and drawbacks. It is important to take your animal’s type and
temperament, as well as your own needs and resources into account when
choosing which footing to install. For more information, designs, or
technical assistance to install a mud free paddock, or other best
management practices on your farm, contact your local Conservation
District.